Optomec announced an improvement in their Aerosol Jet Technology that permits production of very small structures.
metal
The Metal Powder Business Expands Due To 3D Printing, But Only So Far
It seems that metal producers have noticed this pattern and have been gearing up for more sales.
Two “Secret” 3D Printing Startups
Fabbaloo reader Lance Pickens asked about two 3D printing startups, so what else could I do but check them out?
Investing in Metal 3D Print Powders? Not So Fast!
I read a report proposing that it might be profitable to invest in metal powder production for 3D printers and concluded this might not be the best plan.
Two Interesting 3D Print Technologies Under Development
I recently encountered a couple of fascinating research projects that are both attempting to develop powerful new 3D printing technologies.
See, 3D Printing is Definitely Not Dead
In spite of the stream of ridiculous mainstream media posts on the “death of 3D printing”, there are plenty of good news stories, too. Here’s two.
Who is Zrapid Tech and Why Don’t You Know About Them?
Our team encountered folks from a company called ZRapid, whom we learned much about – and you should too.
Ti3AU, the Hardest New Metal Material for 3D Printing?
Researchers at Rice University and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory have developed a startlingly hard material, Ti3Au.
Can You 3D Print a Superconductor?
Selective laser melting process in action. Credit: Tim Sercombe/University of Western Australia
Researchers have been investigating whether it’s possible to 3D print an object that acts as a superconductor.
Large Scale 3D Printed Nanostructures Possible
A newly invented process could enable large-scale use of nano-printed metal materials.
Dissolvable Metal Support Material for 3D Printed Metal Could Create New Opportunities
Researchers have developed a very unusual support material: dissolvable carbon steel that could be used for metal 3D printing support structures.
The Coming Importance of Furnaces for 3D Printing
Furnaces for 3D printing? Yes, I think so.
Implications of Höganäs’ Digital Metal Process
Yesterday I described about Höganäs’ incredible Digital Metal 3D printing process, but I believe there are some strong implications here.
Who Is Höganäs and How Did They Make This Amazing Metal 3D Printer?
Who knew that one of the most amazing metal 3D printing technologies is hidden in Sweden?
colorFabb Announces Steel 3D Printer Filament
True to form, Netherlands-based colorFabb introduced yet another pioneering 3D printer filament, this time based on Steel.
Formfutura’s Almost-Entirely Metal 3D Printer Filaments
Netherlands-based Formfuture announced a pair of new composite metal 3D printer filaments today, but there’s a surprising twist: they’re almost entirely metal!
Arcam’s Recent Moves In Materials Suggest Growth
Sweden’s Arcam is a company on the move, it seems, as they’ve been making a series of deals to solidify their metal materials providers.
Stratasys’ Backdoor Path Into Metal 3D Printing?
With the huge increase of interest in metal 3D printing, you’d wonder why Stratasys, perhaps the largest 3D printing company in the world, doesn’t yet offer metal 3D printers.
Additive Industries’ MetalFAB1 Hits Airbus, And It’s Huge
Netherlands-based Additive Industries has delivered its very first MetalFAB1 to none other than Airbus. The results are huge in more ways than one.
A Consideration of EBM versus DMLS Industrial Metal 3D Printing Processes, Part 2
This is the final segment of a two-part series comparing EBM and DMLS 3D printing processes. The first part may be found here.
A Consideration of EBM versus DMLS Industrial Metal 3D Printing Processes, Part 1
There is no escaping the fact that industrial 3D printing with metal is an increasing application trend for additive manufacturing technologies.
New 3D Printing Process Could Revolutionize Metal Printing
Researchers from the University of Southern California have developed yet another 3D printing process, which they call “Selective Separation Sintering”.
Something Every 3D Printer Owner Should Have: A Foundry
Many people have 3D printers capable of producing plastic objects, but very few have a metal 3D printer. But with your own foundry, it’s almost as if you did.
3D Printed Lock Key Actually Works!
A designer has been able to recreate a physical lock key with 3D technologies and a handy hardware store.
Proven: Metal Additive Manufacturing Can Optimize Building Structure
A research paper by engineers from Netherlands-based Arup suggests that 3D printed building elements could provide significant benefit when designing particular structural styles.
Metal 3D Printer Manufacturer XJET Announces Huge Investment
Israel-based XJET announced a huge USD$25M investment to bolster their progress in developing an incredibly innovative metal 3D printer.
Arcam To Develop German Market
Sweden-based Arcam seems to be setting up a German subsidiary.
3D Printed Flatware: Another Big Market For Metal 3D Printing?
We’re checking out one of 3D artist Francis Bitonti’s latest ventures: Setae Flatware, and realized there might be a lot more to this.
ARCAM Expands: Validating The Increasing Interest In Metal 3D Printing?
A press release from ARCAM seeks to hire a number of different roles. What does this mean?
Nano-Level Electro-Chemical 3D Printing Demonstrated
A new microscopic 3D printing process has been developed by Swiss company Cytosurge, and it can print metal!
UCLA Invents New Strong And Lightweight Metal, But Can It Be 3D Printed?
A new metal alloy developed by UCLA researchers looks quite promising, particularly for aerospace use, but can it be 3D printed?
Additive Industries Nails Their First Beta Tester For MetalFAB1
Netherlands-based Additive Industries has found a willing tester for their massive metal 3D printing system, the MetalFAB1.
Why The Interest In 3D Metal Printing?
We continue to hear growing interest in metal 3D printing. Is there a reason for this? We think so.
Additive Industries Licenses Metal 3D Print Patents From EOS
Expect some interesting developments in metal 3D printing after EOS has provided some of their technology to Additive Industries.
The Other Way Of 3D Printing Metal
Most commercial metal 3D printers use powder-based techniques, but there’s another approach: deposition welding.
Ibarmia’s Hybrid Metal 3D Printer and Mill
Spain-based Ibarmia has partnered with researchers to create a very intriguing hybrid metal manufacturing machine.
A 3D Printing Pen – That Prints In Metal!
The 3DMetalCreator is a unique device: it’s a pen that can print in metal.
China Set for 3D Printed Hip Joint Mass Production, and The West May Suffer For It
China’s State Food and Drug Administration recently approved use of 3D printed artificial hip joints, opening up the possibility of mass production. And some other effects, too.
i.Materialise Offers Black Steel 3D Prints and Lowers Pricing
Popular consumer-oriented 3D print service i.Materialise just added a very interesting new material: Black Steel.
SWISSto12 Produces 3D Printed Antennae
A company uses a combination of 3D printing and electroplating to produce lightweight microwave and millimeter-wave transmission components.
The Cosine AdditiveMachine1 Large-Format 3D Printer
The number of very large plastic-extrusion technology 3D printers is increasing. Today we’re looking at the Cosine AdditiveMachine1, which definitely qualifies for that list.
The Skylon Spaceplane’s 3D Printed Injector
You may not have heard much of the Skylon spaceplane project, but you soon will hear more, partly due to 3D printing technology.
Arcam’s Q10 EBM Printer Answers the Need for Customized Metal Implants
Sweden’s Arcam has been in the metal additive manufacturing (AM) business since 1997, and has established itself as a leading manufacturer of electron beam melting (EBM) metal AM machines.
Concept Laser M3 Linear
Germany’s Concept Laser has been a leader in the field of laser metal melting since the debut of its M3 Linear system in 2004.
Time For a Breakthrough in 3D Metal Printing?
3D metal printing is an expensive proposition, and it may be that this expense is holding back adoption by industry. Is there anything that can be done?
Is Metal 3D Printer Filament Dangerous?
We’re wondering whether using metal-infused filaments in personal 3D printers is actually a safe thing to do.
Perceptron’s Green Laser 3D Scanner
Perceptron announced a new style of 3D laser scanner that overcomes several issues.
Fabrisonic Hybrid Metal 3D Printing
Fabrisonic, a company based in Columbus Ohio, has a different approach to metal 3-D printing.
Electroplate Your 3D Prints with the Orbit1
Tired of plain plastic 3D prints? A new device can electroplate your prints in metal: The Orbit1.
NASA 3D Prints Copper Rocket Part
US space agency NASA has 3D printed a full-scale rocket engine part in copper.
3D Printed Metal Pricing Analysis
A reader recently asked us how much it would cost to print an item in metal. We said, “Lots”, but there’s more to the story.
Why Would You Need Tungsten 3D Printer Filament?
We’ve noticed MakerGeeks sells spools of tungsten infused filament. Is this something you could use?
Filamet Hopes To Provide Artist-Quality Metal Filament
A small project has launched to provide a new kind of metal filament for personal 3D printers that is specially designed for use by artists.
NanoSteel Makes Another Breakthrough in Metal 3D Printing
Metal 3D printing materials supplier Nanosteel has developed a method of 3D printing a gradient of metals in a single part.
First 3D Printed Jet Engine
A team of 3D print researchers has managed to 3D print an entire jet engine.
New Quality Control Techniques For EOS Metal 3D Printers
EOS manufactures high-end industrial 3D printers, some of which can print in metal. But how do they maintain quality control?
Research May Lead to Low Cost 3D Metal Printing
Research on aluminum 3D printing has discovered ways to potentially lower operational costs.
MakerBot’s Unusual New Materials
MakerBot did not announce any new machines this week, but they did announce some rather unusual filaments.
SLM’s Highly Capable Metal 3D Printers
We took a close look at SLM’s line of metal 3D printers and found several very interesting features.
Crazy New 3D Printing Filaments Available
We noticed several rather unusual 3D printing filaments are now available for you to try out.
An Update on Arcam’s 3D Metal Printing Progress
One of the key metal 3D printing vendors is Arcam. How have they been doing lately?
Prodways’ Viscous Solution
Prodways, the company that made a massive high-resolution DLP 3D printer, now has a viscous material printer.
First Copper and Bronze: There’s Now Brass 3D Printer Filament
The ingenious chemists at colorFabb have developed yet another metal-infused 3D printing filament: brassFill.
Solidscape’s Hold on the 3D Printed Jewelry Market
Solidscape claims they hold some 75% of the 3D printing market for jewelers.
Hands On With uformit’s Personalized 3D Print Service
We spent some time testing the new uformit generative 3D model service and found some amazing results.
Another Method to Smooth 3D Prints
Tired of endless hours of sanding your rough 3D prints? There is a better way to make your 3D prints smooth: XTC-3D.
China Also Has a Space 3D Printer! Or Do They?
We’ve reported on NASA’s currently on-orbit 3D printer and also ESA’s project to develop their own. Now we see China has one, too.
Could Metal Plated 3D Prints Answer Your Needs?
3DDC’s “Metalise It” process could provide relatively strong parts for a lot less expense than printing in metal.
Tanaka Develops Platinum, Nickel-Based AM Powder Materials
Tanaka Holdings has announced that it has succeed in the development and formation of platinum-based metallic glass powder supporting selective laser sintering 3D printers.
Additive industries Introduces… Something?
Down a central aisle at Euromold we discovered a mysterious box from Additive Industries. We stopped by to find out what’s in it.
Challenges Coming for 3D Printing In Space
NASA has launched an experimental 3D printer into orbit, but what challenges lay ahead? We believe there could be significant challenges to overcome.
EuroMold 2014: Year of The Metal 3D Printer
When we first attended EuroMold, the 3D printers by and large were plastic. Now that’s changed. Significantly.
What To Make With Metal 3D Printers?
Earlier this week we saw a 3D printed branding iron. Could this be the beginning of a new class of 3D prints?
New Process Could Lead to Consumer-Priced 3D Metal Printers
We’re checking out a proposed new 3D printing process that could significantly lower the barriers to metal 3D printing: Selective Inhibition Sintering.
Quasicrystalline Alloys Could Improve 3D Print Materials
Researchers at the University of Lorraine in France have been working on new methods of creating powdered alloys.
Concerning the Weight of 3D Print Material
How much filament should you buy for your personal 3D printer? A kilo? Wait, that doesn’t work anymore.
Refining the Lost-PLA Burnout Process for 3D Printed Metal Casting
The folks at the University of Washington’s Mechanical Engineering Department have been refining the process of metal casting using 3D printed PLA.
What Beats bronzeFill? copperFill, Obviously
ColorFabb announced a new experimental material: copperFill.
NanoSteel For Your 3D Metal Printer
With the announcement this week of a personal 3D metal printer, we thought we’d mention a new option for metal material from NanoSteel.
An Affordable Metal 3D Printer?
On Kickstarter we see the launch of the “S” series of 3D metal printer by Australia-based Aurora Labs.
NASA Takes Another 3D Printed Step
We’ve written previously of NASA’s experiments with 3D printed rocket components. It seems they’ve taken another key step forward with 3D printing.
How to 3D Print in Metal – At Home!
Extraordinary 3D printing experimenter Cosmo Wenman has come up with a feasible technique for producing metal objects using a personal 3D printer.
What’s MatterFab Developing?
Startup company MatterFab is said to be developing a new kind of 3D metal printer. We spoke with CEO Matt Burris to find out more.
Researchers Develop Method for 3D Printing Gradient Alloys
Industrial 3D printers have long been able to print metal objects, using a variety of techniques, but now researchers from NASA, California Institute of Technology and Penn State are working on printing “gradient alloys”.
Sciaky’s Scary Electron Beam
Sciaky makes an industrial 3D metal printer that has some pretty scary specifications.
i.Materialise Explains Silver 3D Printing
Have you ever wondered how 3D printing of silver or other precious metals is done? i.Materialise explains how they do it.
Design of the Week: Karl Hoenshell Bust
This week’s selection is the Karl Hoenshell bust by none other than Karl Hoenshell himself.
ColorFabb’s Metal Filament: bronzeFill
ColorFabb has made a habit of introducing new and unusual plastic filaments for personal 3D printers, and now they’ve made a breakthrough with a metal filament: bronzeFill.
More Details on SpaceX’s 3D Printed Rocket Engine
We’ve found some additional details on SpaceX’s surprising 3D printed SuperDraco rocket engine.
SpaceX Takes a Huge Step with 3D Printing
If you are like us, you would have been watching SpaceX unveil their astonishing new spacecraft, the Dragon V2.
ECN Develops A DLP Metal Printing Technique
Researchers at the Energy Research Center of the Netherlands (ECN) have developed a new technique for 3D printing that can create metal parts without melting its mineral material.
A Visual Tour of Lost-PLA Casting
There’s a gallery of images available that demonstrate the process of lost-PLA casting to create a metal object using 3D printing.
NASA’s 3D Printed Instruments
NASA is experimenting with 3D printing techniques to develop not one, but at least three different solutions to space instrument manufacturing issues.
Metal Powder Gets Cheaper
Metal producer Metalysis has invented a much more efficient method to make fine metal powder. Currently the price of titanium powder ranges from USD$200-400 per kg as it is made through a complex multi-step process. Metalysis’ new process involves a single step and should reduce the price accordingly. While this is quite important for… Continue reading Metal Powder Gets Cheaper
The Newton3D Metal 3D Printer
Personal 3D printers have a limitation: materials. Typically used with plastic, many people would like to 3D print in metal. Now there seems to be an option for personal metal 3D printing: the Newton3D, “built from the research of Esteban Schunemann, PhD student at Brunel University”. We don’t know very much about this mysterious… Continue reading The Newton3D Metal 3D Printer